What Is Added Time in Football? Explained Simply

Fourth official holding up an electronic board showing added time

What Is Added Time in Football? Explained in Simple Words

Why the 90th minute isn't the final whistle, and who actually decides how long added time runs.

A match reaches the 90th minute, but instead of ending, the fourth official holds up a board showing something like +4 or +7.

That's added time — also called stoppage time or injury time. It's extra playing time tacked onto a half to make up for time the clock kept running while play was actually stopped.

KickZone Quick Note:

Added time isn't a separate period of the match — it's the same half, extended to cover time lost to stoppages.

Why is added time given?

A match has two 45-minute halves, but the clock doesn't stop for injuries, substitutions, or goal celebrations. The referee adds back some of that lost time at the end of each half under Law 7 of the Laws of the Game, which explicitly instructs referees to allow for time lost through substitutions, injury assessment, time-wasting, disciplinary sanctions, drinks breaks, VAR checks, and goal celebrations.1

Matchday Tip:

Don't assume a close match is over at 90 minutes — some of the biggest goals arrive in added time.

Who decides how much added time is given?

The match referee sets the final figure. The fourth official displays the minimum additional time near the end of the half — if another delay happens during that added time itself, the referee can extend it further.1

So if the board shows +5 but there's a long injury stoppage in the 93rd minute, the match can run well past the 95th.

Added time vs. extra time — not the same thing

Added time happens at the end of normal halves in any match, to cover stoppages. Extra time only happens in knockout matches that need a winner, and means two further 15-minute halves if the score is level after 90 minutes.

KickZone Habit:

"90+3" means a goal was scored in the third minute of added time after 90 minutes.

Why added time has grown longer in recent seasons

IFAB and competition organisers have pushed referees to more strictly account for time lost to goal celebrations and substitutions in recent seasons, which is one reason figures like +8 or +10 minutes have become more common than they were a decade ago — it reflects stricter counting of stoppages, not a rule change to the length of a half.

KickZone Take

Added time is simply the referee's way of returning playing time that stoppages took away. The one thing worth remembering: the number shown is a floor, not a ceiling — the whistle can come later than the board suggests.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 90+5 mean in football?

The match is in the fifth minute of added time after the normal 90 minutes.

Can a match run longer than the added time shown?

Yes — the displayed figure is a minimum; further delay during added time can extend it.1

Is added time given in both halves?

Yes, at the end of each half.

Is added time the same as injury time?

Yes — "injury time," "stoppage time," and "added time" all refer to the same thing, even though it covers more than just injuries.

Sources: 1. IFAB, Laws of the Game 2026/27 — Law 7 (The Duration of the Match).

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